The swimming pool and wellness sector continues to be dynamic, despite the current economic climate and this will be reflected in the coming Piscina BCN show which, from the 20th to the 23rd of October, will showcase new trends and products from 480 companies, over 60% of them foreign, from 34 countries. Fira de Barcelona's swimming pool show will also host a wide range of activities, such as the first Ibero-American Congress on Sports and Recreational Facilities. The Show is also confirming its commitment to innovation with the creation of the first New Products Area.

Despite the difficult economic times, the swimming pool sector continues to be dynamic in Spain where, this year 2009, around 20,000 units will have already been built, according to data from the Federación de Asociaciones de Fabricantes de Equipos y Constructores de Piscinas, Saunas y Spas, FAPS (ASOFAP-ATEP). Likewise, a market study compiled by Market AAD for the show and FAPS, which will be presented on the 22nd of October, reveals that almost half the pools in the country are over 10 years old, which opens the doors for a double business opportunity of renovation and installation of new equipment and accessories.

The report also points out that the swimming pool sector in Spain is well established thanks to the good climate, tourism and recreational culture, and the economic development experienced in recent years. All of this has made the Spanish market a world reference, both for the number of swimming pool installed, over 1.1 million - 58,5% of which are concentrated in the Mediterranean area -, and for the existence of internationally prestigious manufacturers and professionals. The sector in Spain has an annual turnover of more than 1,300 million euros, over 2,000 companies and some 12,500 direct and 50,000 indirect employees.

According to the President of the show and of the Asociación de Fabricantes de Equipos, Productos Químicos y Constructores de Piscinas, ASOFAP, Lluís Cortés, "there is a current trend to slightly reduce the size of new swimming pools and improve their level of equipment, with the aim of making use of them more comfortable and prolonged. Likewise, swimming pools are being used more and more as a way to improve health and wellness".

Opting for Innovation

This year's Piscina BCN, which will be held in Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via exhibition centre, will feature a New Products Area, coordinated by the Instituto de Tecnología de la Construcción de Catalunya, ITeC, in which exhibitors will showcase their products, components and accessories that are new or innovative in the sector. A description and photographs of these new products will be available in the show's New Products Guide. The show will also set the scene for the announcement of the winners of the Piscina BCN Awards, aimed at giving public recognition to the innovative and enterprising nature of companies with two different categories: the traditional one dedicated to the best technological innovation and the second specific award which, this year, will go to the best safety proposal.

Wide Range of Exhibits

The show's traditional list of exhibits includes: swimming pools; physical and chemical water treatment; wellness, fitness, spas and hydrotherapy baths; covers; and purification (filters and pumps), among other products. This year's show has incorporated two new sectors: safety equipment and sports and recreational facilities, the latter being a growing sector due to the population's increasing interest in sport, health and wellness.

In order to support this new sector, the show will host the first Ibero-American Congress on Sports and Recreational Facilities, CIDYR, organised by ASOFAP and Piscina BCN. From the 19th to the 22nd of October this congress, which will bring together professionals from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, has the backing of the Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD; the Consejo Iberoamericano del Deporte, CID; the Catalan Generalitat; the Governing Council of Barcelona; the Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias, FEMP; the Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, IBV; and the Federación de Asociaciones de Gestores del Deporte de España, FAGDE.

Over 40 experts will study and analyse the needs and interests of Ibero-American citizens with regard to physical, sports and recreational activities. Participants include Alicia Eugenia Vargas Restrepo, director of the 9th South American Games of Medellín 2010, and Pedro García Avendaño, Rector of the Universidad Iberoamericana de Venezuela.

Side Events and Presentations

This year, the Piscina BCN side events will be dedicated to market opportunities for companies. In addition to the report on the swimming pool market in Spain, a study by the Instituto de Estudios de la Seguridad, IDES, dedicated to the air of public swimming pools will also be revealed on the 22nd of October. All the information on side events and presentations (speakers, times, rooms, etc.) can be found on the activities section of the website: www.salonpiscina.com.

Piscina BCN will be open every day to the general public

Although Piscina BCN is a trade show, this year it will also be open every day to the general public, since there is an increasing interest among private consumers in swimming pool care and maintenance, as well as products associated with wellness.

Press release